216 ALONG THE FLORIDA REEF. 



kind was made. The weather was so warm 

 that they often went in bathing several times 

 during the day, diving from the dock, and under 

 the tutelage of Paublo becoming expert swim- 

 mers, The fishing even from the wharf was 

 good, snappers, grunts, and the barracuda being 

 caught here, while from the upper wharf they 

 often captured a beautiful Cyprcea the shell 

 climbing up the teredo-eaten piles, from which 

 they were taken by the skillful young clivers. 

 Often they would lie on the timbers of the 

 wharf for hours, watching the wonderful variety 

 of fish-life, observing their curious ways and hab- 

 its, their games and antics. 



The aquarium was a favorite spot. The lit- 

 tle office had been fitted up by the doctor, and 

 here were their microscopes, their collecting-jars, 

 instruments, and everything appertaining to the 

 study. Here they could sit and look out of the 

 open door into the aquarium and watch the 

 movements of the various animals they had 

 placed there. From the walk that surrounded 

 the basin they could see the anemones, star-fish, 

 trepangs, craw-fish, the sly octopus crawling over 



